Conservation Ecology - 2012 entry
MSc
/
PGDip
/
PGCert
Overview
Conserving biodiversity is critically important and conservation and biodiversity assessment now have a strong legislative background with targets for the maintenance and enhancement of habitats and species.
This course is designed to develop your professional and field skills, including identification and survey techniques, required for effective conservation. It is also designed to familiarise you with the key ecological concepts underlying evidence-based conservation. You will produce professional reports and assessments and undertake monitoring of species and communities. You will also gain additional skills, essential for conservation practitioners, for example:
- knowledge of wildlife legislation, planning law and environmental policy
- IT competencies, particularly Geographical Information Systems (GIS)
- an understanding of the ecological requirements of different species and the implications of environmental change
- an ability to statistically interpret field data.
Why Brookes?
- Our lecturers conduct first-class research in conservation ecology as reflected, in the UK government's latest assessment.
- We have great links with many conservation organisations and research institutions such as the NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, providing excellent project opportunities and enhancing career prospects.
- Focusing on the practical application of theory means graduates can adapt quickly to the demands of the conservation industry. For example, we develop your field skills such as identification techniques, required when undertaking biodiversity surveys.
- Research-informed teaching keeps our students up-to-date with the latest thinking. For example, equipping you with current conservation legislation and practice is essential in the context of rapidly-changing demands on land use.
- We develop your transferable skills, particularly communication, organisation and research planning, which will assist you when carrying out your project and prepare you for a career in conservation ecology.
- On successful completion of the MSc, graduates will be able to apply for graduate membership of the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management.
In detail
CONTACT US
Postgraduate Administrator
conservationecology@brookes.ac.uk
+44 (0) 1865 483826
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Department of Biological and Medical Sciences
Faculty of Health and Life SciencesRELATED COURSES:
Andrew Halcro-Johnston
My research project enabled me to work with the RSPB on breeding bird surveys, giving me considerable experience in the field.
See full profile »Course content
Conservation Ecology is a master's course designed to provide you with a thorough understanding of theoretical and practical skills required for proficiency in conservation ecology. The course is also offered on a part-time basis and we encourage applications from professionals in conservation organisations and environmental consultancies who wish to upgrade their qualifications.
Teaching focuses on current issues in conservation associated with environmental change, species identification and survey techniques, the key theoretical underpinning of conservation ecology and an introduction to wildlife legislation, GIS, and environmental impact assessment. By completing this course you gain an ability to statistically interpret field data and develop your abilities to organise your work and communicate to a variety of audiences. You will also be taught about research methods and career development, to help you to transfer your skills to the work environment.
Early in Semester 1 you will plan your research project. You will work with your tutor to design a research project that best suits your interests and needs. We encourage project work to be carried out with external research organisations and conservation practitioners, many of whom we have strong links with, or with research groups within Oxford Brookes University.
You will achieve an MSc degree on successful completion of all the course modules including the research project. A Postgraduate Diploma will be awarded for completion of course modules without the research project, and a Postgraduate Certificate will be awarded for completion of 60 M-level credits. To complete an MSc you need to obtain 180 M-level credits and for a PGDip 120 M-level credits. For a PGCert you need to obtain 60 M-level credits. The following core modules are compulsory for all three qualifications:
- Taxonomy and Identification (20 M credits) develops taxonomic skills by requiring students to focus on the processes of identification of species and recognition of key characteristics of selected taxonomic groups. Skills are learned by practical studies in the field and by the use of collections and appropriate taxonomic tools.
- Ecology for Conservation (20 M credits) introduces appropriate theory and methods together with examination of areas of controversy and best practice for habitat and species conservation and monitoring.
- Ecosystem Degradation and Management (20 M credits) considers the nature and extent of ecosystem degradation resulting from human activities and the methods for conserving and restoring degraded ecosystems.
The following core module is compulsory for the MSc and PGDip:
- Career Development and Research Skills (20 M credits) looks at the practical aspects of scientific work, such as designing and analysing experiments and presenting proposals for research and results to prospective employers.
For the MSc and PGDip you need to obtain 40 M-level credits from any of the following modules:
- Molecular Biology (20 M credits) introduces core practical skills within molecular biology, to give a firm grounding in the practical aspects of molecular biology that can be applied to problems in conservation biology.
- Genome Science (20 M credits) develops an understanding of structure content and evolution of genomes and bioinformatics, which is essential for understanding how molecular information can be applied in wildlife forensics and phylogeography.
- Environmental Law and Decision Making (20 M credits) examines the international, European and UK legal context of environmental decision making.
- GIS and Environmental Modelling (20 M credits) looks at the practical application of GIS and other computer-based techniques and models as tools to assist in environmental decision making.
- Procedures and Methods of EIA (40 M credits) examines the procedures and methods of environmental impact assessments.
For the MSc, you also undertake:
- Research Project (60 M credits) involves an individual research study on a selected topic in Conservation Ecology.
NB As courses are reviewed regularly, the module list you choose from may vary from that shown here.
Teaching, learning and assessment
Conservation Ecology is a modular master’s course in which different subject areas relating to conservation are taught and assessed separately through assignments, presentations and project reports. It is organised on a module-credit basis, with each 20 M-level credit module representing approximately 200 hours of student input. This includes approximately 36 hours of staff contact, normally timetabled through three-hour teaching blocks over the two 12-week semesters.
Teaching and learning methods reflect the wide variety of topics associated with conservation ecology, and include field visits and exercises, lectures, directed reading, workshops, seminars, practical exercises, laboratory sessions and project work. A key component of the course is developing field skills, including species identification. Identification techniques are taught in the field and in laboratory sessions, using expertise from the Department of Biological and Medical Sciences and, where appropriate, from the University of Oxford Museum of Natural History.
Where appropriate you will be taught by guest speakers who are conservation practitioners or who work in conservation research organisations. Some parts of the course share modules with master’s provision in Environmental Assessment and Management and Environmental Management and Technology.
Quality
The Department of Biological and Medical Sciences includes lecturers who conduct first class research in conservation ecology and have established links with conservation organisations and research institutions within the UK and Europe.
Teaching staff are drawn primarily from the department but visiting speakers from consultancies and research organisations also contribute.
In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise 65% of our Biological Sciences research submitted to the exercise was of international quality, of which 20% was internationally excellent or world leading.
Career prospects
Graduates of this course gain employment primarily with environmental consultancies or agencies, conservation organisations or charities, or continue academic research as a PhD student. Some of our past students have worked or are currently working for environmental consultants, the RSPB, the Environment Agency and Natural England.
Specialist facilities
Our students can gain work experience with consultancies and conservation organisations during the course. Not only is this gained via project work but we also encourage our students to take up additional short-term opportunities with such organisations. These opportunities are invaluable for future employment prospects.
Field trips
We use the varied landscape of Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire as our natural laboratory, and the course has a large practical component, developing survey and assessment methods as well as identification skills. This landscape is used to illustrate major conservation issues as well. Most of this field work is conducted as part of the modules but we also have a field skills based period at the end of the taught component of the course and offer opportunities to work towards gaining specialist licences, which are invaluable for consultancy work.
Work placement and professional recognition
We encourage you to conduct your research project with conservation organisations or with one of our research groups. We have good links with a range of national and local conservation organisations. On successful completion of this MSc, you will be eligible to apply for graduate membership of the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management. With an additional two years' work experience, you will be eligible to apply for associate membership.
Free language courses for students - the Open Module
Free language courses are available to all full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students who are studying any course on our Headington (including Marston Road), Harcourt Hill or Wheatley Campuses, and can be taken as a credit on some courses.
Key facts
CONTACT US
Postgraduate Administrator
conservationecology@brookes.ac.uk
+44 (0) 1865 483826
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RELATED COURSES:
Faculty
Faculty of Health and Life Sciences
Department
Department of Biological and Medical Sciences
Course length
Full-time: MSc: 12 months, PGDip: 8 months, PGCert: 8 months
Part-time: MSc: 24 months, PGDip: 20 months, PGCert: 8 months
Teaching location
Headington Campus, Gipsy Lane
Start date
September 2012
UKPASS code
P035706
Apply / Entry reqs
CONTACT US
Postgraduate Administrator
conservationecology@brookes.ac.uk
+44 (0) 1865 483826
DOWNLOADS
RELATED COURSES:
Entry requirements
In order to successfully complete a postgraduate course, applicants are usually expected to have (or be about to attain) at least a second class honours degree in a related scientific subject from a recognised institution of higher education. If you do not have these academic qualifications, you could still be offered a place on this course if you can show evidence of the potential to succeed based on professional and/or related experiences.
English language requirements
If your first language is not English, you must satisfy our English language requirements by providing us with evidence of a minimum IELTS score of 6.5, TOEFL score of 90 (internet-based).
Please also see the university's standard English language requirements.
English language requirements for visas
If you need a student visa to enter the UK you will need to meet the UK Border Agency's minimum language requirements as well as the university's requirements. Find out more about English language requirements.
Preparation courses for international and EU students
We offer a range of courses to help you meet the entry requirements for this course and also familiarise you with university life. You may also be able to apply for one student visa to cover both courses.
- Take our Pre-Master's course to help you to meet both the English language and academic entry requirements for your master's course
- Take our University English course to help you to meet the English language requirements of your master's course
How to apply
You apply for this course through UKPASS.
Conditions of acceptance
When you accept our offer you agree to the conditions of acceptance. You should therefore read those conditions before accepting the offer.
Credit transfer
Oxford Brookes operates the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). All postgraduate single modules are equivalent to 10 ECTS credits, double modules to 20 ECTS credits, and treble modules to 30 ECTS credits. A full master's course will carry 90 ECTS credits. More about ECTS credits.
Fees / funding
CONTACT US
Postgraduate Administrator
conservationecology@brookes.ac.uk
+44 (0) 1865 483826
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RELATED COURSES:
TUITION FEES
UK/EU
Full-time: £6,160
Part-time: £3,140
International
Full-time: £11,140
Fees (part-time and full-time) are for the academic year starting in 2012 only, unless otherwise stated. Fees increase annually by approximately 4%.
Questions about fees?
Contact Student Finance on:
+44 (0)1865 483088
finance-fees@brookes.ac.uk
Scholarships and funding
For general sources of financial support, see:
Oxford
CONTACT US
Postgraduate Administrator
conservationecology@brookes.ac.uk
+44 (0) 1865 483826
DOWNLOADS
RELATED COURSES:
Charlotte Kinnear
My knowledge of soil sampling gained during my research project directly benefited my previous post as a Research Assistant with the RSPB Conservation Science Department.
See full profile »Why Oxford is a great place to study Conservation Ecology
As a student in Oxford you'll be at the heart of the UK's most successful economic region and in a centre for leading industries which provides you with a host of learning opportunities. Students also benefit from our strong links with local organisations such as NERC's Centre for Ecology and Hydrology.
Because Oxford is one of the world's great academic cities, it is a key centre of debate, with conferences, seminars and forums taking place across education, science, the arts and many other subjects.
In addition to our own excellent libraries and resource centres, our postgraduate students have access to the world-renowned Bodleian Library, the Radcliffe Science Library and can gain free entry to the Botanic Garden and Harcourt Arboretum.
Support
CONTACT US
Postgraduate Administrator
conservationecology@brookes.ac.uk
+44 (0) 1865 483826
DOWNLOADS
RELATED COURSES:
Support for students studying Conservation Ecology
- Supervision from internationally-recognised academics
- Part-time opportunities for students based in the workplace
- Excellent facilities giving access to the latest technology
- A mixture of funded and self/externally-funded places
- High-profile research events
How Brookes supports postgraduate students
Supporting your learning
From academic advisers and support co-ordinators to specialist subject librarians and other learning support staff, we want to ensure that you get the best out of your studies.
Personal support services
We want your time at Brookes to be as enjoyable and successful as possible. That's why we provide all the facilities you need to be relaxed, happy and healthy throughout your studies.
Research
CONTACT US
Postgraduate Administrator
conservationecology@brookes.ac.uk
+44 (0) 1865 483826
DOWNLOADS
RELATED COURSES:
Research areas and clusters
- Invertebrate ecology and biogeography
- Evolutionary developmental biology
- Ecological and social impacts of ecotourism
- Ecological mitigation measures
- Spatial ecology and land use
- Environmental ecology
- Taxonomy
- Agricultural ponds - carbon sources or sinks?
